Candied Orange Slices

These candied orange slices are a chewy and sweet treat that is incredibly easy to make and only uses 4 ingredients! The orange slices are simmered in sugar syrup and then dried. You can eat these by themselves, use them as a cake topper, or even add them as a garnish for cocktails!

Easy Candied Orange Slices

These candied orange slices only require a handful of ingredients and take very little work from you! They do take 24 hours to dry, but they are worth it!

Candied orange slices can make any dessert look extra elegant. If you want to make this sweet dessert extra special, I recommend dipping it into melted chocolate!

Jump to:

• Easy Candied Orange Slices
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔪 How To Make Candied Orange Slices
• 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
• ❓ Can You Eat The Rind Of A Candied Orange?
• ❓ Are Candied Orange Slices Gluten-Free?
• ❓ Why Are My Candied Oranges Bitter?
• 🍰 More Sweet Dessert Recipes!
• 📖 Recipe Card
• 💬 Comments & Reviews

🥘 Ingredients

If you already have some oranges, then you most likely have all of the ingredients! If not, these are simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store!

• Water – 4 cups of water.
• Oranges – 4 small oranges (tangelos and cuties can also be used).
• Sugar – 3 cups of granulated sugar (plus more for the optional coating).
• Vanilla Extract – ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract (up to 1 teaspoon for extra vanilla flavor).
• Chocolate Chips – 1 cup of chocolate chips (optional, for melting and dipping). Use more as needed, depending on how many of your candy orange slices you'd like to dip (ie. use 1 cup for ½ the oranges).

*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts, & instructions!*

🔪 How To Make Candied Orange Slices

This is a very easy recipe, however, it does require waiting 24 hours for the slices to dry so you’ll need to make this in advance. All you’ll need is a mixing bowl, saucepan, and a wire cooling rack!

This recipe makes 40 slices of sweet candied oranges that are great for sharing (or not)!

Slice & Simmer The Orange Slices

1. Prepare your oranges. To start, trim the top and bottom off of your 4 small oranges and then slice them evenly.
2. Boil. Next, add 4 cups of water, 3 cups of sugar, and ½ teaspoon of vanilla extract to a saucepan, and then bring it to a boil over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the sugar has fully dissolved.
3. Simmer the oranges. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the sliced oranges. Simmer for 45-60 minutes until the orange peel (or the rind) has become slightly translucent. Give them a gentle stir every 10-15 minutes or so to make sure all sides are covered in the sugar water.

Dry, Coat with Sugar & Dip In Chocolate

1. Dry. Place a cooling rack on top of a baking sheet to catch any drips and then transfer your oranges onto the rack to dry. This will take about 24 hours.
2. Dip. Finally, dip your candied orange slices in some granulated sugar, if desired, or melt 1 cup of chocolate chips to dip your orange slices halfway.

This sweet, fruity treat would be great for get-togethers or parties! For a great, fruit-themed dessert table spread, you could pair these candied orange slices with orange Jello salad and chocolate-covered strawberries! Enjoy!

💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes

• Take some extra time to carefully clean your oranges using a vegetable brush before slicing and making them into these delicious candy slices. You want to make sure that your fruit is as free of residue as possible.
• Instead of granulated sugar, dip your dried candied orange slices in melted chocolate for an extra special treat! This time I made ⅔ of the batch into sugar-coated candied oranges and then the remaining ⅓ of the batch into chocolate-dipped candied oranges.
• Candied orange slices make a wonderful cocktail garnish (especially if the drink features orange liqueur). They also make a chic and beautiful topper or decoration on cupcakes, cakes, and frosted cookies as well as a special addition to homemade trail mix!
• The remaining liquid is a sweet and fruity orange syrup that can be reserved to use in desserts or cocktails!
• To store: Keep candied orange slices refrigerated in an airtight container and enjoy within 1 month.

❓ Can You Eat The Rind Of A Candied Orange?

Yep, and they are delicious when cooked correctly! You can even make candied orange peel, without the rest of the orange!

❓ Are Candied Orange Slices Gluten-Free?

Yes, candied orange slices are gluten-free! However, make sure to double-check the label on the specific chocolate chips that you buy. Most chocolate chips are gluten-free!

❓ Why Are My Candied Oranges Bitter?

Orange peels are naturally very bitter. I’ve learned that sweet, ripe fruit is less likely to have a bitter peel after being candied. However, if your fruit is not particularly sweet, you can boil the slices in water for 1 minute before proceeding through the rest of the recipe.

🍰 More Sweet Dessert Recipes!

• Pear Crisp
• Plum Cake
• Vanilla Bean Cupcakes
• Maraschino Cherry Coffee Cake
• Blueberry Tart
• Brownie Blondies

📖 Recipe Card